'Zifa gone to the dogs'

HARARE - Ndumiso Gumede, the former Zimbabwe Football Association Football (Zifa) vice-president, is concerned with the way events are unfolding at the association.

The veteran football administrator has called onto the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to intervene before it’s too late.

Gumede, one of the longest-serving Zimbabwean football administrators, and now chief executive at Bulawayo giants Highlanders, feels people at the association have turned into politicians and risk destroying the beautiful game.

Gumede, who served in different positions at Zifa, and was Cuthbert Dube’s number two between 2010 and 2014 when he decided said the recent suspensions of councillors and board members is an embarrassment to the national game.

“Football should unite the nation but what is happening now is a cause of concern to the national sport. People at Zifa are beginning to act like politicians.

“In football to go that way is very a sad development. Football has simple and straight forward rules on how to deal with certain issues like these. This is a detrimental development to the national game.”

Gumede added: “With all due respect I think the SRC should now intervene because the situation is slowly getting out of hand. These guys have lost direction.

“This is embarrassing to say the least. I worked for Zifa from 1980 but during my time what is happening now has never happened in the history of our football. This must come to an end.

“The best thing is for SRC to call those in authority and read them the riot act. They have become an embarrassment to the nation. The situation is getting worse and unacceptable and we want answers as soon as possible.”

Dube and Mashingaidze have come under fire for the way they have turned Zifa into a two-man show in recent years.

Any dissenting views are misconstrued as an attempt to topple Dube which has bred a culture of bootlicking at 53 Livingstone Avenue.

While factionalism and politicking have taken centre stage at Zifa, football on the other hand has been relegated to an afterthought.

Only last week, Warriors coach Calisto Pasuwa refused name the squad for the 2017 Afcon qualifier against Malawi as he was owed his salaries since his appointment on an interim basis last year.

Sports minister Andrew Langa eventually intervened and assured Pasuwa that the government would pay his outstanding dues.

The Warriors also refused to travel to the airport to catch their flight to Malawi as they demanded their allowances and match fees.

The team finally left for the encounter after Walter Magaya, leader of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance ministries, convinced the players to travel.

Comments (9)

similarities between Zifa and Zanu

Muckracker - 17 June 2015

Cuthbert Dube and Jonathan Mashingaidze are outstanding failures in administering the national game.SRC must simply dissolve the rotten ZIFA administration.Yes, there is the risk of FIFA sanctions, but who are FIFA to govern us? After all FIFA is embroiled in an embarassing bribe scandal.So what can an immoral entity like FIFA dictate to us? SRC please just fire Cuthbert Dube and his misguided side kick,Jonathan Mashingaidze.

Soccer Analyst - 17 June 2015

Why does the nation allow Mashingaidze and Dube to hold the nation at ransom. What is so special about them. Are they indispensable? They should just be fired and made to account for all those funds that ZIFA received from FIFA. Otherwise behind their backs lies many criminal dealings than the eye can see.

Bhora resimbi - 17 June 2015

Why does the nation allow Mashingaidze and Dube to hold the nation at ransom. What is so special about them. Are they indispensable? They should just be fired and made to account for all those funds that ZIFA received from FIFA. Otherwise behind their backs lies many criminal dealings than the eye can see.

Bhora resimbi - 17 June 2015

No!!!!! Zifa has not gone to the dogs but the dogs are running ZIFA

ZVAZVIRI - 17 June 2015

Action is needed and all Zimbabweans should brainstorm a platform to respond to corrupt practices in the country at any level. Lets deal with the corrupt head on. That's the way forward.

Ziziharinanyanga - 17 June 2015

By the way, do we have a Minister of Sport, or just an idiot in that position??? This is the lowest a sport has sunk, and the most popular national pass time for that matter while the Minister's silence is deafening to say the least!!! Kenengoni please wake up that sorry excuse of a Minister and make him act. The man is a disgrace!!!!

SHIBOBO - 17 June 2015

I think the SRC must fire those two Dube and Mashingaidze who have brought our beautiful game to its lowest. Is it not possible for SRC to ask for permission from FIFA to dissolve the ZIFA board? They could mention a few examples of their blunders which have embarrassed the country.

SOKO GP - 18 June 2015

kkk ,if ZIFA indeed has gone to the dogs,Gumede is one such big dog because he was also in the thick of things that planted this messy.The football fans are to blame for not taking action against these barbaric acts and again for allowing novice to lead our football,shame how can we be lead by people who can not interpret their own constitution, Dube is only applying the constitution to his advantage

sinyoro - 18 June 2015

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